Watch-key



(No Model.) l

G. P. REED.

Watch Key'. A

Patented Aug. 31', 1880.

- @@JFM` PEIERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, wA Hl WMM the other, as shown at B,to form a shoulder,

rose, inthe county of Middlesex and State Vtion represent,pin Figure l,a side elevation,

key is shown at A as a straight rod or tube,

UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE,

WATCH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 231,729, dated August31, 1880.

Application filed July To all whom it! may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE I. REED, a citizen of the United States,residing at Melof Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in WVatch-Keys; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to letters or iigures of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

This invention relates to means for concealing the winding-pipe of awatch-key by the employment of a sleeve loosely encompa-ssin g thebarrel or body of the key, and adapted, when the key is suspended fromone end, to drop over and conceal the pipe, or be pushed over the sameby hand, if necessary, the sleeve being prevented from escape bysuitable means, and converting a watch-key into an ornamental appendagefor a watch-chain, resembling the load-pencil now much worn.

yThe drawings accompanying this specifica,-

and in Fig. 2 a longitudinal section, ofa watchkey containing myimprovements. y

In these drawings, the body or barrel of the one halt' of which is oflarger diameter than a., at the middle ofthe key, or thereabout, the endof the larger portion A terminating in the winding-pipe b, common towatchkeys.

C represents a sleeve composed of 4a straight tube of a diameter toloosely encompass the larger half B of the key, and after being passedover such portion B is turned down at its inner end over the shoulder a,as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, by which an annular lip, c, isformed, which engages the shoulder and prevents escape of the sleeve inthe di rection of the pipe b, and yet permits of end play ot' the sleeveupon or about the smaller or upper half, d, of the barrel A.

Toprevent escape of the sleeve in the` opposite direction, its lower orouter end is con tracted to a diameter less than that of the lowerportion, B, of the barrel, as shown at e. 4

To expose the pipe b preparatory to winding a watch, the sleeve O ispushed inward until the pipe is uncovered, and as the key would benaturally held in a horizontal position while 1, 1880. (No model.)

the winding of the watch takes place, the sleeve would not interferewith the operation, or if it should drop into contact-'with the cover ofthe watch-case would do no harm.

Vhen the watch is wound and the key is permitted to hang from the chainthe sleeve will drop over the pipe and conceal it, or if sufcientfriction existed between the two to prevent this the sleeve may bepushed by hand over the pipe.

Objection exists with many persons to wear ing a watch-key (when it isknown as snch) upon a watch-chain. By the employment of the sleeve O thereal character of the key is disguised, and it cannot be detected fromthe ornamental lead-pencil now so common, in which one portion slidesupon another with a telescopic joint.

The swivel in the upper end or head of the barrel A, to which allusionhas before been made, is shown as composedof aspherical ball, f, letinto a socket, g, in the end ofthe barrel, and with the edge of thesocket -turned over upon and so as toinclose the largest diameter ot'the ball, by which means escape of the latter is prevented, and it ispermitted universal freedom of motion.

The ring by which the key is suspended is shown at JL as passed throughthe outer side ot' the ball j', which completes the key.

I do not -coniine myself to the form of the ball j' as represented in atrue sphereas in place of this a cylindrical disk of other shapes may beused-as, for instance, a iiattened ellipsoid, a truncated cone, &c.andeffect a substantially like result so long as its greater diameter wasinclosed in the socket.

I claiml. In combination with a cylindrical case, a watch-key providedwith a barrel or shank that protrudes through the rear end of said case.

2. In combination with case O, open only at the ends, a key consistingof protruding barrel A, enlargenilent B, and windingpipe b,substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with cylindrical case O and key A B b, a ring, 7L.attached to said key by a ball-and-socket joint.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE I). REED.

Witnesses H. F. LODGE, F. G. SIMrsoN.

lOO

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